Focusing device



C. SKLAREK FOCUS ING DEVI CE Original Filed May 25, 1927 April 29, 1930.

Patented Apr. 29, 1930 ulxurlsznv STATES PATENT OFFICE CLIFFORD SKLAREK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL SPOT- LIGHT CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS FOCUSING DEVICE Original application filed May 25, 1927, Serial No. 194,022. Divided and this application iiled June 6, 1928. Serial N'o. 283,208.

This invention 4"relates to improvements in focusing devices, and is a division of my pending application Ser. No. 194,022, filed MaS/.25, 1927.

Inthe manufacture and use of dirigible lights, the most common use of which is as a spotlight for automobiles and other automotive vehicles, one of the most difficult things to attain is a satisfactory projection of a powerful beam of light. The small electric bulbs which are universally used in this type'of light as a source of illumination in combination with a reflector 'are not manufactured commerciallyV of uniform character,-

it being a well known fact that the filaments are more or less irregular and very frequently off center with respect to the base of the bulb so that, even though the Vsocket for the bulb is accurately placedrelatively to the reilector,-the light rays will not emanate from the focus of the reflector surface and consequently a relatively weak and diffused beam of light is the result. `This has been found true even when relatively high candle power bulbs are used.

n One object of my invention therefore is to provide simple and eflicient adjustable means in the lamp head of a dirigible light for compensating for irregularities in the location of the filaments of the electric bulb so that the source of illumination may be accurately disposed at the focus of the reflector for any allecricbulb that may be used in the lamp lOther and further objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the descripy l j tion and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a part elevational view, part vertical, sectional view, of a lamp showing my improvements incorporated therein. Figure 2 is an enlarged. vertical. sectional view illustrating the details of construction of the adjustable means for the bulb socket. Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view corresponding to the line 3-3 of Figure 2 but upon a somewhat smaller scale. And Figure 4 is a. sectional view of a modified form of the adjusting arrangementA for the electric bulb and embodying the invention.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, the lamp head comprises a main outer shell 5 of more or less parabolic outline, the lower portion of the shell being secured between two washers 6 and 7 by a nut 8 to a vertically extending operating shaft 9. The lamp shell is provided with a lens 10, attached to the shell by suitable means such as the clamping ring 11, and screws 12. Within the shell 5 there is provided a reflector 13, the one illustrated being of the usual parabolic type such that all light rays emanating from the focus of the reflector will be reflected from the surface of the reflector in parallel lines. Access to the interior space between the rear wall of the shell 5 and the reflector 13 is obtained through a large screw cap 14, which may be conveniently turned by a coin or other suitable device, the cap 14 being located at the apex of the shell and alined with the axis of the lamp.

As customary in this type of light, I employ an electric bulb 15, which is indicated conventionally, the same having a filament shown at 16. and the usual base 17, the latter being provided with the usual pins not shown, adapted to be assembled with the sleeve or socket member 19 in the usual manner through the medium of a bayonet-slot indicated at 20.

The socket 19 is slidably mounted in the direction of its axis within a holder in the formi of an adjustable sleeve 21, the details of which are best shown in Figure 2. yThe kadjustable sleeve 21 is, in turn, rotatably mounted within a support in the form of a block 22 rigidly secured to the reflector 13, as shown. The sleeve 19 is provided with an axially extending flange 23 which is slotted so as to provide a plurality of spring fingers 24. The lingers 24 frictionally engage the socket member 19 and thus frictionally hold the latter in any adjusted position vaxially of the adjusting sleeve 21. The sleeve 21, as shown in the drawings, has the opening, indicated at 25, which receives the socket member 19, eccentrically disposed with respect to the outer cylindrical surface 26 of the adjusting sleeve 21 so that, as the adjusting sleeve is rotated, the axis of the socket mem- Gil ber 19, and consequently, theaxis of the electric bulb 15, will be shifted up and down and laterally sol that the center of the filament 16 may be accurately adjusted to co-incide with the focus ofthe reflector, regardless of variations-in the location of the lament relative to the axis of the 'base of the bulb. With the two adjustments, that is, the longitudinal' and radialadjustments described, l fam enabled to bring lzthe rsource of illumination to the exact focus of the reflector and thus obtain true parallel reflecting light rays and amost Y A:powerful light.

rlomaintainthe adjusting eccentric sleeve 21` in any adjusted position of rotation, I preferably employ -a spring yoke r27, which Vis secured to the `bearing member 22 by ya screw 23, the spaced arms 29-29 of the yoke,

lutilize the pins 30 for an additional purpose.

As best shown in Figure 2, the bearing sleeve 21 is provided with a radially extended dange 32 which bears against the outer face of the bearing` 22. The pins 39430 are so located with respect to thewall of the ygroove 31 as shown in dotted lines in VVl'figure2 as-to be off center with respect to the groove 31 and toward the forward or inner sidey thereof,

Y thereby camming or pulling the adjusting sleeve21 inwardly with respect to-the bearin g22y, and thereby maintaining the parts in tight engagement with .each other to avoid rattling or loose play. As will be yunderstood, theninner endsvof the pins 30-,-3O are yround so asto facilitate .the action Ylast described.` For convenience the y,peripheral edge of .the flange 32 may be `knurledso as to facilitate rotation Yofthe sleeve 21 vby the. .operatorie lingers which may beA inserted th-rough the `opening in therear ofv the shell when the capy 14 vis removed.

@Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4,;in lieu of the eccentrically adju-stable bearing for the bulb j y bers and having both shouldered and frictional engagement with the other of said socket,l may employ an ladjustable supporting sleeve 121-having an annular rib 122 of spherical formation, the surfaces-,of which-.cooperate a bearing member 123 secured to the reflector 113, and an annular bearing ring 124.v l The bearing remember 1123 and the ring 124 Vare :provided with complemental spherical bearing surfaces |co-operable with ythe kbearing surfaces of the rib 122 to form -Y a 'ball and socket joint so that the sleeve 121 mayV 'be adjusted y ui'iiversally to V,vary the :axis

of the lamp socket. "To maintain the'adjusted position of the sleeve 121 and to eliminate possibility of rattling, the ring 124 is attached to the bearing 123 by screws 125e- 125, the latter carrying springs 126-126 on their stems interposed between the heads of the screws and the ring 124. The adjustable sleeve 121 is provided with spring lingers 12.7 corresponding to the spring fingers 24 of the structure first described `so asto frictionally hold the socket 128m any adjusted position in an axial direction relative to the supporting sleeve 121. As will be apparent, I am enabled to obtain the same universality .of the adjustment' of the filament ofthe `lamp with respect to the reflector as heretofore described in connection with the structure shown in Figures1to3. n.

While l have lherein shown I and described what l now consider the preferred manner of carry-ing out my invention, the same Vis merely illustrative and l contemplate all changes and modificationsfthat come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

1. ln a lamp including a reflector and a lamp bulb cooperating with-the reflector, the combination lwith a socket adapted tol receive the lamp bulb; of means for supporting said socket including asleeve receiving said socket, and a fixed blockforming a holder for the sleeve, said sleeve being laterally adjustable in said block, and`l said socket being adjustable lengthwise ofthe sleeve; resilient means y on the sleeve having fr-ictional contact with the socket for holding the vsame in adjusted position, and resilient -means 'on the block having fr-ictional contacty with the sleeve for holding the saine in adjustedposition.

2. ln a lamp includingl av reflector andra lamp bulb cooperating with the reflector, the combination with a socket ,adaptedto receive the lamp bulb; of means supporting the socket, including a sleeve member and -a support memberV in whichthe sleeve/.is rotatably mounted on an axis: eccentric to the axis of the socket, whereby relative rotation of said sleeve member land the support member eifect lateral adjustment ofthesocket and bulb carried thereby; and means for. Vyieldingly maintaining-the relative adjustment of said sleeve memberl Vand support member, and holding the same assembled, including friction elements supported on one of said inemmembers and means mounted on the member on which said elements 'are `supported for yieldingly forcing said element-s against the membery with which the lfriction elements enmember for said sleeve, 'in' which the .sleeve is mounted for rotation on an axis eccentric to the axis of said lamp bulb to effect lateral adjustment of the lamp bulb, said sleeve having an annular groove; and means for yieldingly holding said sleeve in adjusted position including friction elements mounted on said supporting member and engaging Within said groove, and spring members also mounted on said supporting member for yieldingly holding said elements in said groove.

4. In a lamp including a reiiector and a lamp bulb cooperating with the reiiector, the combination With a sleeve in which the base portion of the lamp bulb is supported; of a ysupport for the sleeve in which the sleeve is rotatably mounted on an axis eccentric to the f axis of the lamp bulb, to effect lateral adjustment of the bulb With respect to the center of the reflector to focus said bulb, said sleeve having shouldered engagement With the support to limit movement of the sleeve length- Wise in one direction; and means for yieldingly holding said sleeve in adjusted position, including a friction element having camming engagement With the sleeve to hold the same in shouldered engagement With the support, thereby preventing looseness therebetween.

5. In a lamp including a reflector and a Ylamp bulb cooperating Wth'the reflector, the

combination with a holder for the lamp bulb; of'a support for the holder provided With an opening adapted to receive the kholder and in which the same is adjustably mounted; a flange on said holder abutting said support to prevent movement of the sleeve in one direction; and yielding means having camming engagement With said holder for forc- Y ing the iange thereof against the support and maintaining the same engaged therewith.

6. In a ylamp including a reflector and a lamp bulb cooperating With the reiector, the combination With a sleeve adapted to support said lamp bulb; of a support in Which said sleeve is mounted for rotation about an axis eccentric to the axis of said bulb to provide for lateral adjustment of the bulb With respect to the center of the reiiector, said sleeve having an annular bearing flange engaging the support to limit axial movement of the sleeve in one direction; and means for preventing accidental relative rotation of the sleeve and support, including an annular groove on said sleeve having a curved bottom Wall, and spring pressed elements engaging With said sleeve, said elements having rounded end portions havingV frictional contact with the Wall of the groove and engaging Within said groove to one side of the center of the same, thereby yieldingly holding said flange in engagement with the support.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 25th day of May, 1928.

CLIFFORD SKLAREK. 

